Stephanie Rond: Works
June 2005
I created these paintings to reflect women’s experience in the 1950’s and how that era of American history has impacted the role of women today.
Stephanie Rond
Artist Statement
Although I was not alive in the 1950s, I can remember growing up in the 1970s hearing about this time from older generations. I watched the old sitcoms such as Leave It To Beaver and listened to adults discuss this “perfect world.” As I grew older I came to understand the hidden truths of that time. Not only did the 1950s stereotype women, but oppression was occurring with race, religion, sexual orientation and political beliefs. Although American society has made great strides in acceptance, these events and indoctrinated roles influence many aspects of our lives today.
I use authentic images from 1950s textbooks and advertisements. I tend to use colors that have a false or pastic feel to them to represent the artificial happiness of the time. The images on first glance are intended to be a sort of happy scene, but taking a closer look, I hope that the viewer contemplates the deeper meaning.
Declaracion de Artista
Aunque aun no habi’a nacido en la decada de los 50s, recuerdo haber escuchado en los 70s jente mayor hablar de esos tiempos.
En la televisio’n veia programas de esa e’poca, como “Leave It To Beaver”; yo escuchaba las generaciones mayores discutir este “mundo perfecto.” Cuano madure empeze a realizar las verdades ocultas de ese tiempo. No solo las mujeres eran victimas de estereotipos, pero la opresion estaba ocuriendo en respecto a raza, religion, orientacio’n sexual y poli’tica. Seguidamente la sociedad Americana ha dado muchos pasos y avances en la aceptacio’n y tolerencia, pero lo que transcurri’o en los 50s, esque los hechos estan, infiltrados y eso influye en muchos aspectos de nuestra vidas.
Yo uso imagenes autenticas de libros y avisos de los 50s. Me encuentro usando colores que tienen un sentido falso y plastico para representar la alegri’a falsa de ese tiempo. Las imagines a primera vista tienen la intencio’n de reflejar ma’s o menos cituationes alegres, pero contemplando los retratos con ojo ma’s cri’tico espero que el observante le de mas contemplancia a la realidad ma’s profunda.